Clamping device



Sept. 6, 1955 I C, B HARKER 2,716,795

CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2, 1952 United States Patent O CLAMPING DEVICE Charles B. Harker, Rockford, Ill., assigner to Bartelt Engineering Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 2, 1952, Serial No. 264,599

5 Claims. (Cl. 24--255) This invention relates to a device for clamping a thin article such as a flat paper bag, and the general object is to provide a new and improved clamping device which is easily operated, which grips the article securely, and which is of simple construction.

Another object is to provide such a clamping device with two spaced clamps which may be opened together through a common operating lever but which is closed independently of each other to come into firm gripping engagement with the article.

The invention also resides in the novel construction and mounting of the springs of the clamps.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a clamping device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the clamping i1.

device opened.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation.

The improved clamping device shown in the drawings by way of illustration is especially adapted for receiving the edge of a bag 10 and gripping the same at widely ci spaced points so as to hold the bag securely in a desired position for the performance of filling or other operations thereon.

Generally stated, the device comprises two spring closed clamps 11 spaced along a common support 12 and adapted to be opened simultaneously by a lever 13 having an operating arm 14 disposed between the clamps and pro jecting outwardly from the support. Herein, the support 12 takes the form of an elongated substantially flat block having a projection 15 on one side to facilitate mounting of the block in any desired position.

Projecting from the other side of the block near its opposite ends and adjacent one edge thereof are two lugs 16 whose flat end surfaces 17 form the fixed jaws of the two clamps. The opposed movable jaws 18 of the two clamps are formed by the free ends of elongated strips 19 of resilient material secured at their other ends to the block 12 and stressed to urge the movable jaws toward the fixed jaws under the desired pressure.

To permit the use of springs of substantial length while maintaining a minimum overall length of each clamp, each strip 19 is bent into a U-shape to provide substantially parallel arms 20 and 21 of equal length straddling and extending transversely of the block 12. Near its end, the arm 21 is anchored on the block as by a cap screw 22 threaded into the block. In effect, therefore, the arm 20 forms the movable clamping jaw 1S and the remainder of the strip 19 constitutes a spring urging the jaws together. The end of the arm 20 is bent outwardly and away from the block 12 and cooperates with a bevel 23 on the lug 16 to guide the article to be clamped and directed in between the jaws of the clamp.

2,715,795 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 seated in recesses 27 in the bar 24 and thus define a lever fulcrum which extends along the block and between the arms 20 of the two U-shaped springs. The operating arm 14 of the lever comprises a lug integral with the bar 24 between the clamps and inclined outwardly from the block 12 and in the direction of the closed ends of thel springs 19.

Normally, the springs 19 hold the movable jaws 18 against the fixed jaws 17 and thus maintain the clamps closed. Byy applying pressure at the outer end of the I. operating arm 14 to swing the latter toward the block 12,

the bar 24 is rocked on the balls 25 thus swinging the edge 28 of the bar away from the block. In this movement, the edge engages the spring arms 20 and lifts the movable jaws away from the xed jaws thus opening the clamps. The latter are closed automatically when the pressure on the lever arm 14 is released.

It will be apparent that the parts of the double clamps above described are extremely simple in construction being easily machined or formed from sheet metal strips. They may be assembled easily by placing the bar 24 over the balls 25, fitting the springs 19 over the ends of the block 12 and then inserting and tightening the screws 22. Owing to the substantial length of the springs, comparatively large pressures are exerted by the individual clamps 11 which are opened and closed simply by depressing and releasing the operating arm 14.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a clamping device of the character described, the combination of, a block, rounded projections spaced apart and projecting laterally from one side of said block, an elongated bar lying along said one side and having recesses receiving said projections to hold said bar against edgewise shifting, said bar rocking about a fulcrum defined by said projections and extending longitudinally of the bar, a U-shaped member of spring material straddling said block transversely of said bar and having a first arm extending over said bar to hold the bar against the block, means for fastening the other arm of said member to the opposite side of said block, the portion of said block opposing said first arm cooperating with the latter to form a clamp, and an operating arm projecting laterally from said bar and movable to rock the bar about its fulcrum and to spread the jaws of said clamp apart.

2. In a clamping device of the character described, the combination of, an elongated block, a U-shaped member of resilient material straddling said block and having arms extending transversely across said block along opposite sides thereof, means securing the end of a first one of said arms to said block, a lug projecting laterally toward the second arm from the adjacent side of said block and abutting against the end of the second arm of said member to hold said second arm away from the block against the spring action of the member, the opposing portions of said lug and said second arm cooperating to form a clamp, and a lever fulcrumed on said block between the block and said second arm and having a portion projecting away from said block to engage said second arm and move the same away from said lug when the lever is rocked in one direction.

3. In a clamping device of the character described, the combination of, an elongated block, a U-shaped member of resilient material straddling said block and having arms extending transversely across said block along opposite sides thereof, a lug projecting laterally from one side of said block and abutting against a first one of said arms adjacent the end thereof to hold said iirst arm away from said one side against the spring action of said member, the opposing portions of said lug and said first arm cooperating to form a clamp, and a lever fulcrumed on said block between the block and said rst arm and having a portion on one side of its fulcrum projecting from said block to engage said first arm and move the latter away from said lug when the lever is rocked in one direction.

4. A clamping device comprising a block, a U-shaped member of resilient material having arms straddling said block, means securing the outer end of one of said arms to said block, the free end of the second arm cooperating with the block to form a clamp, a lever fulcrurned on said block between the latter and said second arm and having a part on one side of the fulcrum engaging the second arm, and an operating arm on said lever on the opposite side of the lever fulcrum from said second arrn and swingable to rock said lever and separate the jaws of said clamp.

5. A clamping device comprising a block, a U-shaped References Cited in the tile of this patent UNLTED STATES PATENTS 42,683 Osborne May l0, 1864 360,576 Fish Apr. 5, 1887 377,031 Jensen Jan. 31, 1888 487,959 McDonald Dec. 13, 1892 636,166 Newbaker Oct. 31, 1899 1,398,592 Hohnsbeen Nov. 29, 1921 1,474,102 Ashmore N ov. 13, 1923 2,566,465 Robbins Sept. 4, 1951 FOREGN PATENTS 993 Great Britain of 1884 

